Ankle Sprain

Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa

If your ankle is swollen and painful, it’s possible you’ve experienced an ankle sprain. If so, call the expert podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa in Ankeny, Iowa, led by Paul Dayton, DPM, MS, and Mindi Dayton, DPM, MHA. They can give you the immediate medical attention you need to get you on the road to recovery. Call the office, or book an appointment online today.

Ankle Sprain Q & A

What is an ankle sprain?

An ankle sprain is an injury caused by the overstretching of ligaments in and around your ankle. It can be caused by an unnatural twisting of the ankle and foot bones, resulting in one or more torn ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The severity of the sprain depends on the impact of damage, in addition to the type of sprain and duration of treatment. If an ankle sprain isn’t properly treated, long-term problems might develop.

See the team at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa if you’ve sprained your ankle. They can assess your condition and treat it with superior care.

What are symptoms of an ankle sprain?

If you’ve sprained your ankle, the following symptoms can occur:

Pain when applying pressure

Swelling

Bruising

Difficulty walking

If your ankle sprain includes a bone fracture, you might experience significant pain. If so, see your doctor as soon as possible for an X-ray to determine the severity of your injury.You can be confident that the podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa can diagnose, treat, and monitor your condition.

How is an ankle sprain treated?

Treatment for an ankle sprain includes resting and elevating your foot, and applying ice to reduce swelling. Compression bandages may also be helpful to immobilize and support your injury during healing. Physical therapy is often used and can have a positive impact on the outcome.

If your ankle sprain is serious, involving bone damage or a fracture, you might require surgery to repair and tighten the injured ankle ligaments. Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa providers are highly trained to evaluate ankle injuries and recommend the best treatment.

If surgery is needed, the surgeons on staff provide the most advanced open and arthroscopic treatments to get you back to full speed in the least amount of time.

How can I prevent an ankle sprain?

You can prevent ankle sprains with preparation tactics that include:

Exercising your ankles

Performing toe flexion

Stretching your ankles

Wearing properly fitting shoes

Warming up before activity

Wearing braces or tape for support

Maintaining strength, balance, and flexibility in your foot and ankle can help you avoid ankle sprains or injuries.

If you experience an ankle sprain, call Foot & Ankle Center of Iowa for guidance and for a regimen that can strengthen your ankle and prevent further injury. You can also book an appointment online today.